Monday, June 20, 2011

My soaring pedigree chum: The 'flying' dogs competing to keep a frisbee in the air for as long as possible

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Got it! This furry competitor clasps his paws around the disc, leaping over the heads of a woman and girl

They're at the top of their game. Fit and focused, they show the same grit and determination as any other athlete with their eye on the prize.

But these are no ordinary athletes. While it might seem barking to some, these are the furry competitors of the Skyhoundz Disc Dog European Championship in Budapest

Hounds from all over Europe descended on the Hungarian tournament to show off their finely-tuned skills in the sport known as 'disc dog' which is played alongside their owners.

Man's best friend: German competitors Jergen Bartz and his dog Summi compete in the Skyhoundz Disc Dog European Championship in Budapest

In what looks like a complicated move, a border collie jumps over two human competitors to catch the frisbee

Disc dog - of frisbee dog - is described by enthusiasts as a sport celebrating the bond between handler and canine and involves thedog and its handler keeping the frisbee in the air for as long as possible.

It began in the early 1970s, and sees both dog and human working together as team mates to keep the disc in the air for as long as possible.

According to enthusiasts of the sport, it can handlers a while to get the animals to understand the concept of the game as most dog might not instinctively know to turn and chase a disc thrown over its head.

Handlers training hounds for competition start by throwing the disc straight to the dog over short distances.

Once the animal has learned how to catch handlers teach them the concept of running for the disc.

Team work: Krisztina Herberling of Hungary and her dog Roni. Hounds from all over Europe descended on the Hungarian tournament

Taking the lead: Eva Nagy, of Hungary, with her dog Babu and Jergen Bartz with Summi

Flying through the air: A border collie leaps over its owner as it reaches for the frisbee

Further on in the training, the disc should be thrown at increasing heights to encourage the dog to leap higher to catch it.

It's only once the dog has mastered these moves that it will instinctively follow the disc wherever it goes, meaning it has the skills to be capable of competing.The handler can then enter the dog in a number of categories, which include 'toss and fetch' and freestyle.

In competition categories, dogs chase multiple discs in short routines choreographed to music.

Skyhoundz staged its first ever World Canine Disc Championship in 2000 and is now the largest disco dog competition series in the world, with more than 100 free local events held in the United States and other countries, including the European championships.

Gotcha: Hungary's Zsuzsanna Varga and her dog Alex compete. The sport is described by enthusiasts as a celebration of the bond between human and canine

Acrobatic: The dogs show off their finely-tuned skills in the sport which is played alongside their owners

Eye on the prize: The dogs must master routine manouevres to ensure the grasp the concept of the game